CLYDE.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2280, 11 November 1897, Page 29

CLYDE.

November B.— Wo have been having quite a lengthy blow of cold, stiff nor'-we3tera, consequently the grass and grain crops are not growing as freely as farmers Would desire. These nor'westers have the effect of drying up the soil to. such an extent 'that irrigation has to be resorted to immediately ia_ order to supply the requisite amount of moisture to the soil. The recent steady rainfall gave the land a splendid soaking, but even by this time the effect is scarcely perceptible, the nor'- westers having quite dried up everything a day or two after the rain ceasing. ' ; Insect Pjsst.— The cuily blight is executhft

havoc amongst those peach trees that were not sprayed at the commencement" of the season. Where a system of spraying was not adopted very little fruit may be expected upen peach treeu, the curly blight having complete mastery of the trees. It is really astonishing to see the number of infested trees there is in the gardens_ round about Clyde, but then of course but little is done in the way of counteracting the ravages of the pest. He Couldn't Stay Away.— The Alexaudra Herald has been "had," as it puts it, through reporting the suicide of a Chinaman who one day recently turned up all right, and nothing the worse for his reported leap into eternity. The Herald is now confident that Johu did not take the leap, and announces its future intention of refusing to notice the death of a Chinaman until a doctor's certificate is foithcoming to prove conclusiv. ly that it is a Chinaman and not a sheep that has died. 1 have it on the authority of a Chinaman who is versed in the "Fin-tisin" of his countryman that the Herald report was probably true. The fact is, he informed me, some Chinamen die and go home to Hongkoug. and return to life again when the journey has been completed. This is what the suicide has been and gone »nd done, therefore the Herald has not been "had" after all. The Chinaman had a lUht to stay at Hongkong, acd the whole affair would have gone off without a hitch. Trav&ls. — I learn upon good authority that I)r Hyde intends taking a trip to his birthplace in Canada in the near future, and from Canada he will pioceed to England and Germany, visiting the leading hospitals of those two countiies, ■where be may probably pick up a wrinkle or two in apiofessioual sense. While very many of us would regret any necessity arising for Dr Hyde absenting himself from the district, still we Bhoull lccognise tbe fact of bis long residence amongst us, during which timo he has never sought any lengthened holiday from the worry and strain entailed by an extensive practice. Then, Dr Hyde has other than professional connections in the district, be being largely interested in the dredging industry. 'lo Dr Hyde's energy and forethought may be attributed the marked success of oiredging in this district, as he it was who fatepped within the breach at the right moment and changed the old humdrum order of things in dredging by inducing capital into several ven'turef, all of which have been exceptionally successful so far. These succbises have offered inducements to others, and venture after venture has been undertaken and success achieved in every instance. While hoping that Dr Hyde will ' eujoy hia intended trip, I cannot but be conscious of the fact that he will be missed— and very much missed -by the people of this district. ' Holiday.— Mr and Mrs Is. Naylor h»ye left for Christchurch, where they intend spending a holiday during show week As Mr Naylor is much interested in the breeding of draught t-tock, and is no mean judge of a horse, I am sure he will be delighted with what is to be seen in the show ring at- Ohristehurch. It is also very probable that Mr Naylor may purchase a pmebred ram of some breed with a view to introducing new blood into the Chestermains flock.